Key plays fast and loose with NZ security - again

Posted by Joanne Robertson on July 03, 2014

John Key has once again shot his mouth off about a security threat to New Zealand, despite official advice warning him not to, Labour’s Associate Security and Intelligence spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“The Prime Minister announced to media on May 26 that the hacking attempt on the NIWA super-computer came from a Chinese IP address.

“However, papers released under the Official Information Act show that on May 24 the Government Communications Security Bureau advised him it would be ‘very unhelpful and premature to speculate where any potential threat is from’.

“John Key has been utterly inconsistent with what information he is prepared to release on security intelligence matters. In situations where New Zealanders would expect him to be transparent he has been evasive, and now when he has specific advice not to speculate, he goes ahead and does so.

“It seems the Prime Minister is prepared to treat security and intelligence matters purely as a political tool. If he is under pressure about another issue he seems happy to give out information on security matters as a diversion. This is extremely irresponsible.

“John Key’s oversight of New Zealand’s security and intelligence agencies has been shoddy and haphazard, including the appointment of his friend Ian Fletcher, the Kim Dotcom affair and the illegal spying on other New Zealanders.

“New Zealanders deserve far better on an issue of such significance to our security and privacy,” Grant Robertson says.